Visit the most interesting and mysterious places of Turkmenistan in a fascinating 12 days tour. You will see the modern Ashgabat city with its impressive white marbled buildings entered into the Guinness Book of World Records, visit the World Heritage Sites – Parthian Fortresses of Nisa, Ancient Merv, and Koneurgench exploring the past along the mystical Silk Road. You will also make a journey to the heart of the Karakum Desert to see the Burning Gas Crater in Darvaza. Furthermore you will spend a day in a traditional and picturesque Nohur village in Kopet Dag Mountains, visit pilgrimage sites, explore the magnificent scenery of Yangikala canyons, relax on the shores of the Caspian Sea spending a night in a luxurious hotel in Avaza seaside resort, discover Koytendag mountain ridge, a grandiose canyon "Umbar Depe" with striking 28m waterfall, the famous plateau of Dinosaurs (with 438 footprints), unique sulfur - hydrogen spring "Kainar Baba", canyon "Kyrk gyz", carst caves and many more.
PACKAGE ITINERARY:
Day 1: Arrival in Ashgabat early in the morning.
Arrival in Ashgabat. Pick up at Ashgabat airport and transfer to the Grand Turkmen hotel 4*. Early check-in and free time in the morning. You can walk around the hotel; near the hotel, you can visit beautiful monument of Akhalteke horses, park of “Ylham” (Inspiration), “Altyn Asyr” trade market and “Gulistan” market (so called Russian bazaar).
In the afternoon we will have a half-day tour of Ashgabat including visits to Park and Monument of Independence, Arch of Neutrality, a 75m- high monument with a revolving golden statue of the first President Turkmenbashy. Hit the viewing platform of the Arch of Neutrality to see the beautiful panorama of Ashgabat. Sightseeing of the historical and archaeological site “Ancient Nisa – the Residence of Parthian Kingdom” UNESCO site from 2007. The Parthian Empire was one of the most powerful and influential civilizations of the ancient world, and a brilliant rival of Rome which prevented the expansion of the Roman Empire to the east. Continue visiting of Turkmenbashy Mausoleum and Ruhy Mosque in Kypjak – one of the biggest mosque in Central Asia.
Day 2: Ashgabat - Anau – Mary – Merv (385 km.)
Morning drive to Mary. Visit on the route Anau pilgrimage place (remains of Seyitjemaletdin mosque XV c). Arrive in Mary & check in hotel. In the afternoon sightseeing to Ancient Merv known as Mary ShahuJahan-King of the World for about 300 years became the biggest city in Asia, inscribed into the monuments list of World Heritage Book, protected by the UNESCO. Visiting of Gyz Gala &Oglan Gala (6-7th cc.), Complex of Askhabs (8-14th cc.), Giaur Gala (4th c. BC), Buddist Complex (4-6th cc.), Erk Gala (6th c. BC), Soltan Gala (11th c.), Soltan Sanjar Mausoleum (12th c.), IbnZeid Mausoleum (12th c.). After tour of Ancient Merv drive back to Mary (35 km). Arrival & rest. Overnight at Mary 4* hotel.
Day 3: Mary – Turkmenabat (280 km) – Koytendag (420 km)
Early morning drive to Turkmenabat. Arrive and having lunch at local restaurant. Continue driving to Koyten village to explore the Koytendag Nature Reserve, which offers dinosaur footprints, a vast network of caves and Turkmenistan’s highest peak. The region has some fine historical monuments and holy places as well. Crossing Amudarya River. Arrival in Koyten. Accommodation in the hostel. Overnight.
Day 4: Explore Koytendag
Morning drive along the Koytendag mountain gorge. Koytendag is the home of the highest mountains in Turkmenistan, the deepest lake, the longest caves and the most majestic natural waterfalls in the country. Koytendag Nature Reserve is a huge geological research center, the pride of which is the rocky plateau with hundreds of dinosaur footprints. Explore “Forty Girl`s Gorge”, “Plateau of Dinosaurs”. Lunch outdoors. Visit of Umbar-Dere Waterfall. Return to the hostel. Excursion to the Kaynar Baba Lake. Overnight at the hostel.
Day 5: Drive back to Turkmenabat (420 km)
Drive back to Turkmenabat. En route stop to visit “Astana-Baba” Mausoleum in Atamyrat. Continue driving. Arrival and check in Jeyhun 3* hotel. Overnight.
Day 6: Flight to Ashgabat. Drive to Darvaza (260 km)
Morning flight to Ashgabat. Arrival in Ashgabat and drive to Darvaza. En route stopover to visit Erbent Nomadic village where you can enjoy seeing the local life in the desert - Turkmen yurts, dromedaries, tamdyr (mud oven) and many others. Arrive at Darvaza, explore the gas craters, first full of water, and second the sulfur - muddy. Leave the road and venture in the desert to see the flaming gas crater. Arrive at site of flaming gas crater. Having dinner (barbecue). Explore the flaming gas crater at sunset. Overnight in Turkmen yurts or tents with sleeping bags.
Day 7: Darvaza – Koneurgench – Dashoguz (360 km)
In the morning depart Darvaza and drive to Koneurgench - the capital of Khorezmshahs (3-16th cc.) inscribed into the World Heritage Book of UNESCO.Koneurgench (known as Gurganch in the past) is the largest historical and archaeological park in the north of Turkmenistan. It is a large reserve with numerous ruins and monuments on the territory of modern Kunyaurgench. Such great Muslim scholars as al-Biruni, al-Khorezmi and Avicenna once worked here.
Sightseeing of the old city: Portal of Caravansaray (11-14th cc.), Il Arslan Mausoleum (12th c.), Mausoleum of Khorezm shahSultan Tekesh (13th c.), Academy of Horezm (3-13th cc.), Mausoleum of TurabekHanum, Minaret of KutlugTimur (14th c.) - one of the tallest minarets in Central Asia, Najmeddin Kubra (13th c.) and Soltan Ali (15th c.) Mausoleums.
After sightseeing of Kone Urgench drive to Dashoguz. Arrival & check in Dashoguz 4* hotel. Overnight.
Day 8: Dashoguz – Turkmenbashy (by flight). Rest in Avaza – Caspian Sea Resort.
After breakfast at 09:30 drive to Dashoguz airport. Flight to Turkmenbashy (flight No: T5 236, at 11:30). Arrival in Turkmenbashy - the biggest port town of Turkmenistan. The town is enclosed with low mountains and faces the Caspian Sea. Arrive and accommodation in Yelken 5* hotel, Seyrana 5* or similar - one of the best hotels in Avaza – the most popular sea resort center (10 km from Turkmenbashi) that is promising much in the future. Rest on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Short sightseeing in Avaza with its nice beaches which will be turned soon into the free economic touristic zone with decades of luxurious hotels, resorts and health clubs. Overnight at “Yelken”5* hotel, “Seyrana” 5 * or similar hotels.
Day 9: Avaza – Yangikala (175 km)
Leisure at the hotel. Check out at 12:00 from hotel. Drive to Yangikala where impressive limestone formations rise up from the desert sands with views of the Karabogaz Gulf in the distance. These limestone cliffs are the remains of massive coral reefs from the pre-historical Parathetys Sea. En route stop in Turkmenbashy city to have lunch and visit the local bazaar to stock up with food & drinks for dinner. Continue to the canyon of Yangikala, home to some of the best scenery in Turkmenistan. Arrive and explore the site. Take a picnic among the cliffs. When the sun sets we drive to the pilgrimage site of Gozli Ata - one of the holiest pilgrim sites in Turkmenistan. The mausoleum of Gozliata, located on a low platform against the backdrop of stunning pink and red limestone rock formations. Overnight at a local pilgrim house (multi-share accommodation).
Day 10: Leave Yangikala and drive to Nokhur Mountain Village (320 km)
Morning drive to Nokhur Mountain Village by 4WD car via Balkanabat. Arrival in Nokhur village. Short sightseeing of Nokhur village and visiting of "Gyz Bibi" Pilgrimage site & its unique cemetery where each tomb has the horns of mountain goats, the Great Tree - oldest tree in the village thought to be 800 years old. Introduction with local silk textile weavers and having dinner at local family. Overnight at local family’s house.
Day 11: Nokhur – Kowata – Ashgabat (170 km)
Leave Nokhur and drive to Ashgabat. En route stop to visit “Kow-ata” underground lake. A warm hydrogen sulphide lake lies in a cave at the Kopet Dag foothills. 276 steps lead into the lake. On your way down you will admire marvelous grapes and lines of stalactites and see bat’s bevies. This cave impresses with its greatness. It has the length of 250 m, width 50 m, depth of 65 m. The lake is available all year round because of constant temperature of water (33-37◦C) and air. Arrival in Ashgabat. Accommodation at Grand Turkmen 4* Hotel. In the afternoon, enjoy free time for rest or shopping.
Day 12: Ashgabat – departure to home
Check out hotel until noon. Transfer to the International Airport of Ashgabat according your departure flight to home. Farewell. End of tour.
Tour dates: September 6-17; October 1-12; 2023
Tour duration: 12 days / 12 nights
Places to visit: Ashgabat, Nissa, Mary, Ancient Merv, Turkmenabat, Koytendag, Darvaza, Koneurgench, Dashoguz, Turkmenbashy, Avaza, Yangikala, Balkanabat, Nokhur, Kow-ata
TOUR PRICE:
No of travelers |
2 pax |
3 pax |
6 pax |
8 pax |
10-12 pax |
|
Price in USD/per person |
$ 2070 |
$ 1750 |
$ 1530 |
$ 1490 |
$ 1400 |
Single room supplement: 380 USD
Meals:
Half board supplement: 135 USD per person
Full board supplement: 255 USD per person
TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:
Accommodation (local star & standard): double or twin shared rooms at hotels
Ashgabat: Grand Turkmen 4* hotel (breakfast is included), 3 nights
Mary: Mary 4* hotel (breakfast is included), 1 night
Turkmenabat: Jeyhun 3* hotel, 1 night
Koytendag: Koyten hostel, 2 nights
Darvaza: Turkmen yurt or tents with sleeping bags, 1 night
Dashoguz: Dashoguz 4* hotel, 1 night
Nohur: Family house (dinner and breakfast is included), 1 night
Yangikala: Tents and sleeping bags or pilgrim house (dinner and breakfast is included), 1 night
Avaza, Turkmenbashy: Yelken 5* hotel, Seyrana 5* hotel or similar (breakfast is included), 1 night
TOUR PRICE EXCLUDES: International flights, consular fees for Turkmenistan tourist visa (depends on the place you obtain - 40$ at Turkmenistan Embassy abroad, 90 $ on arrival at Ashgabat airport for most nationalities), migration card paid upon arrival - 14 USD, meals not listed above (lunch and dinner allow up to 15 $ per person), photo/video fees at sites & other services not mentioned above.
PROCEED WITH BOOKING & APPLY FOR VISA SUPPORT
To proceed with booking, please email us at: tours@turkmentravels.com the following documents and information for visa support (LOI) process:
1. Colored passport copy (main page of applicant’s passport) in a good resolution and JPEG format. (Passport validity must be more than 6 months)
2. Colored one 3x4 photo (jpg format)
3. Education and name of educational institution
4. Speciality (qualification as in Diploma)
5. Marital Status
6. Job title & Company
7. Address of residence (domicile)
8. Previous visits to Turkmenistan (periods, purpose of visit)
9. Arrival and departure point to/from Turkmenistan
On receipt of your completed form and documents, we will submit your application to the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan. LOI is arranged within 15 working days term. Once the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan approves your travel, we will email you the Visa Invitation Letter (LOI).
OBTAINING TURKMEN VISA
Your Passport must be valid until at least 3 months after your exit date from Turkmenistan and must have at least one blank visa page.
Once you have your visa invitation letter you can then either:
* Visit your local Turkmenistan Embassy with a copy of your visa invitation letter to get a visa stamped in your passport. This can take up to 7 working days.
* Obtain your visa on arrival. You can travel to Turkmenistan with your visa invitation letter and obtain a visa on arrival at the airport or at border zones.
For more information please feel free to email: tours@turkmentravels.com
We are looking forward to welcome you in Turkmenistan!